Fill your stockings and your calendar with a weekend full of festive events, unmissable deals and family entertainment. Think of it as Christmas’s opening ceremony – in Dunedin.
From Black Friday bargains to five hours of free, all-star entertainment at Christmas in the Gardens, the iconic Dunedin Santa Parade, and the epic Z Manu Comp making waves at Steamer Wharf – Dunedin’s Christmas spirit is on full display.
Win a Festive Family Getaway to Dunedin’s Christmas Weekend.
Kickstart the Christmas spirit and win a trip to Dunedin's Christmas weekend for you and up to four family members. Enjoy shopping, Christmas activities and adventure all weekend. Enter here.
Prize includes:
- $300 fuel voucher
- Two nights’ accommodation at Scenic Hotel Dunedin City
Plus these festive extras:
- Family Pass to Tūhura Otago Museum Science Centre
- Family Pass to St Clair Salt Water Pool
- $330 Timezone Powercard from the Golden Centre Mall
- $100 shopping voucher for your choice of store at Wall Street Mall
- $100 Gift Card for Meridian Mall
Weekend Highlights
Friday 28 November
Explore Dunedin's retail shops with extended trading hours and city-wide Black Friday deals to kick off the weekend.
Saturday 29 November
Christmas in the Gardens
Time: 3:00pm - 8:00pm
Celebrate Christmas at the Dunedin Botanic Gardens. Enjoy an afternoon full of free family entertainment and special guests. Bring a picnic or enjoy food trucks near the bandstand.
Entertainment
- – Welcome and MC from Tahu McKenzie
- – Rainbow Rosalind
- – Em and Me
- – Rock covers and fun from Dubious Groove
- – Headliners DKCM Christmas All Stars with a special guest… Santa!
Sunday 30 November
Dunedin Santa Parade
Time: 3:00pm
Dunedin's iconic Santa Parade is filled with enchanting and captivating floats, music, marching, community groups, local businesses, sports teams, and of course the man in the red suit himself - Santa!
Parade starts
Free buses to and from the city centre will be available as well as accessibility parking options. For road closures click here.
People travelling into the city centre to watch the parade and back home again can catch a free ride on all Dunedin bus routes from 1pm to 6pm. To travel for free, passengers will need to tell the bus driver they’re going to or from the parade. They will not need to tag on or off with their Bee Card.
Z Manu Comp at Steamer Basin
Time: 11:15am - 4:30pm
Get ready for an action-packed day of epic bombs, big splashes and all-round good vibes
As well as the main comp, there are two Push Play sessions where anyone can give it a go, whether you’re keen to try your first Manu or just want to jump in for the fun of it.
There’ll be giveaways and games with Tip Top’s Shoot to Scoop, Snickers Ball and Burger King’s Manus for Manus, so bring the crew and make a day of it.
- – Registrations open
- – Push Play - open to all ages and abilities
- – Youth Manu Division
- – Freestyle Division
